The best kids' microscopes
Bugs, leaves, salt crystals and fingerprints: the microscopes that turn a garden into a lab.
A microscope is a present that makes children look at ordinary things differently. Handheld digital ones with screens are easiest for younger children and go outdoors; an eyepiece microscope with slides is the classic science kit.
Honest word on the numbers: '1000x' on a handheld digital microscope includes digital zoom, so think of them as super-magnifiers for insects, leaves and fabric. The first microbes were seen with far less: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a cloth merchant in Delft, made single-lens microscopes magnifying around 270 times, and in 1676 described tiny 'animalcules' in water.
What matters
- A screen for younger children; an eyepiece for older ones.
- Photo saving, for school projects.
- Light: LEDs make a big difference.
- Slides, if they want to see cells.
#1 of 5
Best overall
BMDSAE Handheld Digital Microscope for Kids (2in screen)
£20–£30 Price range
Big, chunky focus dials and a rubbery case built for small hands and the odd drop, with a 2MP camera that saves 200-plus photos. Point it at a leaf, a ladybird or their own fingerprint and it's on the screen.
What owners say: Owners find the images crystal clear with superb zoom, and find it easy to use.
A closer look: Start at the lowest zoom and bring it slowly closer: most blurry pictures are just too close. Plug it into a laptop and the photos make a ready-made school project.
- 2in IPS screen, 2MP camera
- Manual focus, up to 1000x (optical plus digital)
- 8 LEDs, 3 brightness levels
- 600mAh battery, about 2 hours
- Saves 200+ photos or videos, USB-C
Best for: Garden explorers
- Type
- Digital, handheld
- Magnification
- Up to 1000x
- Screen
- 2in
- Photo storage
- 200+ photos built in
- Slides included
- –
- Weight
- About 200g
#2 of 5
Biggest screen
OAEBLLE Kids Digital Microscope (2.4in screen)
£20–£30 Price range
The largest screen here at 2.4in, so two children can look at once, in a 150g body light enough to take on every walk. No slides needed: just hold it against whatever they've found.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use and reliable, with good, detailed images.
A closer look: For video, add a microSD card (not included). The lanyard is worth using: it's small enough to get put down in the grass and forgotten.
- 2.4in IPS screen
- Up to 1000x, 1080p photos
- 8 adjustable LEDs
- 150g, with lanyard
- 200 photos built in; video with a card (up to 64GB)
Best for: Sharing the view
- Type
- Digital, handheld
- Magnification
- Up to 1000x
- Screen
- 2.4in
- Photo storage
- 200 photos; video with a card
- Slides included
- –
- Weight
- 150g
#3 of 5
Most complete kit
BEBANG Kids Digital Microscope Kit with Slides and Case
£30–£50 Price range
Everything in one fitted hard case: the microscope, a 32GB card already in the box, and five real glass prepared slides, with a wider 3mm slot so the slides slide in easily.
What owners say: Owners find it a high-quality educational toy, easy to use, with enough zoom to see a spider's hairs, and it keeps children busy for ages.
A closer look: The prepared slides show what 'real' microscope views look like; then let them try their own, like a hair or a pinch of salt on a clean glass slide.
- 200x–1000x in five steps
- 32GB card included
- 5 glass prepared slides
- Fitted EVA carry case
- About 2.5 hours per charge, USB-C
Best for: A complete present
- Type
- Digital, handheld
- Magnification
- 200x–1000x
- Screen
- –
- Photo storage
- 32GB card included
- Slides included
- 5 glass slides
- Weight
- 200g
#4 of 5
Best budget
SKYBASIC Kids Digital Microscope (2in, 117g)
£10–£20 Price range
Pocket-sized at 117g, with a 2in screen, eight LEDs and room for 200 photos, and it plugs into a computer for a bigger view. A lot of microscope for the price.
What owners say: Owners find it a cool educational tool that's easy to use, though some find focusing tricky and the zoom higher than needed.
A closer look: Rest it on the table or against the object to keep it steady: at high zoom, tiny hand movements blur the picture. Most of the fun is at the lower settings.
- 2in HD screen
- Up to 1000x
- 8 adjustable LEDs
- 200 photos built in; video with a card
- 117g, lanyard, connects to PC or Mac
Best for: Stocking fillers
- Type
- Digital, handheld
- Magnification
- Up to 1000x
- Screen
- 2in
- Photo storage
- 200 photos; video with a card
- Slides included
- –
- Weight
- 117g
#5 of 5
Best traditional microscope
Science Mad 100x Microscope with 30-Piece Kit
£10–£20 Price range
A real eyepiece microscope with three magnifications (25x to 100x), a light and a mirror, plus the kit to make your own slides: tweezers, pipette, vials and blank slides.
What owners say: Owners find it a good introduction to science that children enjoy, though some find it basic and a little flimsy.
Heads up: It's a beginner's microscope, and owners find it a bit flimsy: good for curious eight-year-olds, not for a budding biologist.
A closer look: Onion skin is the classic first slide: peel the thin film from inside a layer, lay it flat and add a drop of water. Needs an adult helping at first.
- Eyepiece microscope, 25x–100x
- Battery light and mirror
- 2 prepared slides (rose stem, onion skin)
- 4 blank slides and slide-making tools
- 30 pieces
Best for: Making slides
- Type
- Optical, eyepiece
- Magnification
- 25x–100x
- Screen
- No (eyepiece)
- Photo storage
- None
- Slides included
- 2 prepared, 4 blank
- Weight
- 430g
How they compare
| Feature | #1BMDSAE 2in | #2OAEBLLE 2.4in | #3BEBANG kit | #4SKYBASIC 2in | #5Science Mad 100x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Biggest screen | Most complete kit | Best budget | Best traditional microscope | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.6 |
| Price | £20–£30 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £30–£50 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £10–£20 Price range |
| Type | Digital, handheld | Digital, handheld | Digital, handheld | Digital, handheld | Optical, eyepiece |
| Magnification | Up to 1000x | Up to 1000x | 200x–1000x | Up to 1000x | 25x–100x |
| Screen | 2in | 2.4in | – | 2in | No (eyepiece) |
| Photo storage | 200+ photos built in | 200 photos; video with a card | 32GB card included | 200 photos; video with a card | None |
| Slides included | – | – | 5 glass slides | – | 2 prepared, 4 blank |
| Weight | About 200g | 150g | 200g | 117g | 430g |
| Best for | Garden explorers | Sharing the view | A complete present | Stocking fillers | Making slides |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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